Dallas (1978–1991): Season 5, Episode 23 - Blackmail - full transcript

- Cliff.
- I love you. Sue Ellen.

I want you to marry me.

Now that I own
that Wellington property...

there isn't anything
I can't give Sue Ellen.

There's no way that
you can keep us apart.

Why are you doing all this. J.R.?

Because I love you. And I need you.
And I want you on Southfork again.

Cliff wants to marry me.

I told you if you didn't stop
seeing Sue Ellen...

I was gonna destroy you, and I did.

You just don't know it yet.



All right. Mama.

- Here you go.
- Thank you. Bobby.

But I thought Lucy and Mitch
were going to get a divorce.

So did I. But whatever he said
to her on the phone...

made her think they might reconcile.

- Good evening. Everybody. Mama.
- J.R.

- Say. You put Christopher to bed already?
- About half an hour ago.

Oh. Doggone it. I wanted to see him. I'm
getting real fond of that little fellow.

He might still be awake.
If you want to check.

Well. Thank you. Pam.

I sure am glad we have at least one child
around this house.

You know...

I never really appreciated how
John Ross filled this house with joy...

until he was gone.



I thought for a while we'd get him back.

But somebody turned
Sue Ellen against me.

J.R.. you know we're all sorry
that you lost John Ross.

But you do get to see him on weekends.

Mama. It's not the same.

I'm sure Bobby and Pam
can appreciate that...

now that they have
their own little boy.

Well. I think I'll go up
and see Christopher.

I feel so sorry for J.R.
at times like this.

Well. I never thought I'd say so.
But so do I.

He really does miss John Ross.

Well. Thank goodness
you have Christopher.

It seems to make things easier
for J.R. with him here.

Hello. Christopher.

You don't know it yet...

but I'm your daddy.

I wonder how your aunt Pam
would feel about it, if she found out.

Good. Good. Now turn your head.

Come on and a big smile.

Smile.

Lucy. I need a smile.

I can't.

Come on. This could be some of
the best work we've ever done together.

All right. There's no hurry.
We've got all the time in the world.

Let's just try. Okay.

No. Don't you try to get away from me.
I won't let you go.

Please. Roger. no.

Okay. Let's just finish this session...

and I'll make us
something to eat. All right?

Now.

Now. Come on. Make it good.

Make love to this camera.

That's it. That's nice.
Come on. Now turn your head.

There...

and back to me.

Would that be first class or coach?

Coach. Please.

One-way coach.

From DFW...

to Rio is...

“$672. Mr...?

Farraday. Jeff Farraday.

Will you be paying
by credit card. Mr. Farraday?

No. I'll pay cash, thank you.

And thank you for your interest
in a joint venture.

But Ewing Oil is not considering...

going into the field
of solar energy at this time.

And sign it J.R. Ewing and so forth.
Anything else?

No. Sir. That about does it.

All right. Call the Cattlemen's Club.

- Make a reservation for lunch for me.
- Yes. Sir.

J.R.. Mr. Barnes is out there.

Good.

Send him in.

- Mr. Barnes, come in.
- Thank you.

Barnes. When are you gonna get over
this disgusting habit...

of barging into my office
anytime you feel like it?

I thought you'd rather hear
the good news from me than a stranger.

The only good news
I wanna hear from you...

is that you are out of my life forever.

You better get used to the fact
that I'm gonna be around a while...

because we're practically neighbors.

If you have something to say.
Say it.

Yeah. What I want to tell you is that
I bought the Wellington property...

right next door to Ewing-Lubbock.

That's impossible. I have an option
on that land.

Yeah. But I got there first.
And I should be drilling inside of a week.

The only people who knew about it
was Weststar and Cartel.

Marilee.

She double-crossed me.
She knew I wanted that land.

- Or was it Jordan?
- No. You're right, it was Marilee.

She and I are partners.
I wanna tell you something. J.R.

I wanna tell you what your problem is.
You don't know how to treat women.

- But what did she go to you for?
- She knew that I would enjoy...

seeing you beaten
just as much as she would.

And everything I did for that woman.

- Including her husband's suicide?
- He was a loser anyhow. You know that.

- And you promised to marry her.
- Get out of here. Barnes.

I'm tired of looking at your face.

Oh. Listen.
Now. There is just one more thing.

Now that I own
that Wellington property...

there isn't anything
I can't give Sue Ellen.

There's no way that
you can keep us apart.

Well. Hell. I might even invite you
to the wedding.

Get out.

Oh. Barnes. You just get dumber
and dumber every day.

I just don't know what to do, Ray.

I mean. If Jock was alive and here...

I could talk to him about it.

Well. He's not.

I'm not so sure Miss Ellie believes that.

You know after all this time. She's just
kept it all bottled up inside her.

Honey. She just has her own way
of dealing with things.

Well. That's just it.
She isn't dealing with anything.

And if I tell her what it is
that I found out about Jock...

I don't know what it might do to her.

Well. You can't go on pretending
that what you know doesn't exist.

Miss Ellie is a strong woman.

She has always been able
to handle things.

I don't know.

I don't know if this
damn book is worth it.

Well. You'll never know
unless you talk to her.

Look what it's doing to you.

You haven't been able to sleep
since you found that diary.

You can't go on and sit
on that fence forever. Donna.

I know it.

And I will talk to her.

I'm just scared.

Clayton. What a surprise.

Come on in. What are you doing
all the way up in Dallas?

- Can I fix you a drink?
- Thank you.

- I haven't seen you in so long.
- I know.

- I've missed you.
- Thank you.

I came by to tell you that I'm gonna
be out of the country for a while.

Oh. On business?

No. Well. On vacation. I suppose.

I haven't taken one since
before Amy died.

I need to be by myself for a while.

Away from the Southern Cross...

and away from you.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

I have got to get myself back in order.

I guess you call it
getting your head straight.

Clayton. What's bothering you?

Mostly...

I think I'm an old fool.

Please. Just tell me what happened.

Remember. We talked
about my going to see Afton.

Yes.

Then last week I had a drink with J.R.

You and J.R?

- Why?
- To talk.

Now. Ordinarily. I wouldn't believe
anything J.R. had to say...

if he were standing
in church holding 10 Bibles.

But...

this time he may not be wrong.

What did he say?

He said that I wanted you back at the
Southern Cross, not for Dusty's sake...

but for my own.

He said that I was in love with you.

Well. That's not true.

Or is it?

In the beginning. It wasn't true.
But now I'm not sure.

That's why I have to go away.

I know if it is true...

I have got to get out of your life.

But I want you in my life.

I want things to be the same
as they were before.

We were two people who loved
each other and needed each other.

But not as lovers.

I don't know if it's possible for things
to be as they were, Sue Ellen.

I hope it is.

Please. Don't let J.R. confuse you.

Don't let him make you think
that this is a sordid affair.

I don't think I can blame J.R. this time.

I just want you to know how important
I think our friendship is.

Take care of yourself.

Farraday?

Operator?

Give me the police department, please.
This is an emergency.

Yes.

I have to report a homicide.

419 Dwyer, apartment 202.

Yes. Sir.

- Good afternoon. Ladies.
- Good afternoon.

- Any calls?
- Yes. These and Mrs. Ewing called.

- Mama?
- No. Sue Ellen.

Do you want me to reach her?

- Yeah. Call her right away.
- All right.

- Hello.
- Hello.

Oh. Sue Ellen. Sly said you'd called.

You've done some pretty
rotten things in your life. J.R.

But I didn't think that even you
would sink this low.

What's wrong?

You have destroyed my relationship...

with the finest man
that I have ever known.

Who might that be?

You know that we're talking
about Clayton Farlow.

Sue Ellen. I was merely
pointing out some truths...

that he had chosen to overlook.

I was doing it in his interest.

What you did was for you
and for nobody else.

And I despise you for that.

And for the pain that you caused him.

Well. It's nothing compared
to the pain I felt when I lost you.

The pain I still feel. Sue Ellen.

For the first time in your life.
I hope you're telling the truth.

That you're the one who's in pain.

One down.

Cliff Barnes to go.

We should bring in a team of geologists
and recheck before we start drilling.

No way. We've seen the reports
and it's a lot.

Besides. My daddy
never needed any reports to find oil.

He just followed his nose and he never
missed. My nose tells me to start drilling.

It might not be a bad idea
to get another opinion.

No. I wanna start drilling now.
I don't wanna wait around.

You're the boss, partner.

What will the start-up cost be?

It's all estimated right here.

The start-up will be about $250,000.

Another $25,000 a day to drill.

Maybe a million before we finally hit.

Okay. I'll meet you at the bank
tomorrow with my half million.

Fine. I'll see you there around 11.

- Tom.
- Yes. Sir?

I want you to start that drilling.

Yes. Sir.

Forest? Mr. Barnes.

I wanna see you in my office
in the morning.

I want you to bring a check
for half a million dollars.

No. No. no.

Be here at 9:00.

- Donna.
- Miss Ellie.

Well. Where have you been?
I haven't seen you lately.

Would you like some coffee?

No. Ma'am.

Donna. What's the matter?

It's the new book on Sam.

Well. Don't tell me you got
a writer's block already.

No.

It's just that during my research.
I stumbled onto something...

that I really wish I hadn't.

About Sam?

It was 50 years ago.

Well. Go on.

Sam and...

a partner.

They wanted some land
that Sam's uncle Jonas had.

Because he wouldn't sell it to them.
They had him committed to an asylum...

in order to get the land.

Oh. no.

How could they?

Oh. They paid him a fair price.

They even gave him 25 percent
of the royalties...

and they intended to release him
once they owned the land.

But?

But he committed suicide.

And he'd left everything
in the will to Sam...

so you could see how bad
that looks for Sam.

Yes. I can.

That poor man killing himself.

Miss Ellie. I am really sorry that
you didn't know anything about this.

Well. Why would I know about it?

Well. I had thought that Jock...

might have told you.

Well. Why would Jock
know anything about it?

Because Jock...

was Sam's partner. Miss Ellie.

It was the beginning
of both of their fortunes.

How can you believe
such lies about Jock?

Of all the men in the world...

he would never do that.

His first wife ended up in an asylum.
He... He hated them.

I understand how you feel.

Oh. No. You don't.

You don't understand anything.

Miss Ellie...

I would never print anything
without your permission.

That's why I came here.

You came to get my permission...

to destroy the reputation
of the finest man that's ever lived?

To tell lies about him.
When he's not here to defend himself?

All for the sake of...?
Of some cheap book?

How dare you!

I don't care about the book.

I don't wanna hurt you.

Then. How could you come
and tell me this?

- It's not true.
- Lt's true.

It's not!

Please. Miss Ellie.

All right.

You go ahead and write your book.

And the day it's published...

I'll sue you through every court
in the land. If I have to.

I will not allow you to do this
to my husband.

Cliff.

Let's go to dinner and celebrate.

- Celebrate what?
- The biggest deal of my life.

I'm on the verge of having more money
than we'll ever need.

Something I've waited for all my life
and finally. It's almost here.

What's almost here?

Oil.

Rivers of oil. Oceans of oil.

I'm sitting on one of the largest
oil deposits in the entire southwest.

Cliff. That's wonderful.

I'm so happy for you.

For us.

I want you to share it with me.

Cliff.

I love you. Sue Ellen.

I want you to marry me.

I can't marry anybody.

Well. Then think about it.
For a day or two days or a week.

But. Oh. Tell me you'll marry me.

Cliff. My life is in such a turmoil.

I just can't give you an answer.

It's not a no. Is it?

But it's not a yes, either.

But it's not a yes, either.

I will settle for that now.

I love you. I want to make you happy.

Promise me you'll think about it.

I promise.

- J.R.
- Hey. Bobby.

Mama held dinner for you.
We're all worried about you.

I was out driving around.

Well. I've done that on occasion myself.

- Where is everybody?
- Upstairs.

I have to go see Pam.

Hang on a minute. Will you?
There's something I wanna show you.

Take a look at this.

Imagine my surprise when I saw those.

Where did you get this?

Well. They're public record.
Anybody can get them.

- What are you gonna do with it?
- Nothing.

Bobby. I'm delighted you and Pam
are adopting my child.

I know you love him.
And he certainly turned her life around.

And I don't mind his
calling me Uncle J.R.

- What's it gonna cost me?
- Not much.

That's why you went
to Sue Ellen. Isn't it?

It's what turned her against me.
She knows it's my child by Kristin.

I had to do that. It was
the only way I could adopt him.

Bobby. I'm not even gonna ask
how you ended up with him.

It doesn't matter now.
He's yours and Pam's.

You might say he took her from the top
of a building to the safety of a nursery.

What do you want. J.R.?

Just a simple display of
brotherly affection. That's all.

I won't say a word
about Christopher to anyone.

As long as I know you'll vote
your 20 shares of Ewing Oil my way.

Anytime I want.

See. It's simple.

I do you a favor.
You do me a favor.

See you at breakfast?

Hell. I tell you. Pamela.
That boy of yours...

gets better and better-looking
every day.

You won't get any arguments from me.

Bobby. I was just telling Pam here
what a handsome boy you got.

You know. With a little fellow
like that around...

it makes you realize
how empty life is without children...

you know what I mean?

Honey. Do you know where Mama is?
She's usually the first one down.

Well. She's in her room.

J.R.. she was awful quiet at dinner
last night. Wasn't she?

Yeah. Now. That you mention it.
I guess she was.

Was there anything wrong
that you might know about?

Well. With Daddy gone.
I guess from time to time it gets to her.

Now. I got a busy day.

Oh. Say. Bob. Drop into
my office later on. Would you?

I've something I want to
talk to you about.

Yeah. Fine.

I can't get over how much
Christopher means to J.R.

Neither can I.

Bobby. I think you ought to check
on Miss Ellie. She was strange last night.

After dinner she went to her room.
And she hasn't left it yet.

- Maybe she's not feeling well.
- I'll go up and see.

- Mama. You all right?
- Yes. I'm fine.

We missed you at breakfast.

Bobby. I wanna be alone for a while.

Mama. Are you sure you're okay?

Please. Bobby.

Yes. Ma'am.

I have never seen her like that.

Donna. This is all we've
talked about since last night.

I know that. But it bothers me.
Ray. Because I know I hurt her.

Look. I had a hard time accepting it too.

Yes. But you did.

Not Miss Ellie.

I mean it's like she's
got Jock on a pedestal.

She acted like he was still alive.

For her. Maybe he is in a way.

I wish I had never started this book.

Does that mean you're not gonna
go ahead with it?

I don't know what to do.

Even if I don't write the book...

I don't know if Miss Ellie
will ever forgive me.

J.R.

Managed to tear yourself away from
Pamela and little Christopher. Did you?

J.R.. would you happen to know
what might be wrong with Mama?

I got no idea. What's the matter?
Is she sick or something?

No. I don't think so. She just sits in her
room staring at the old family pictures.

Well. It could be
with Daddy and Sue Ellen...

and John Ross
no longer at Southfork...

she misses the way
the family used to be.

I don't know.

Your concern for Mama
is very touching...

especially I'm sure you
have other things on your mind now.

Don't be so subtle. J.R.
Why don't you just spit it out?

I was wondering if you gave any thought
to the conversation we had last night...

about your voting shares.

Yes. I have.

And I think you've got
just about as much to lose as I do.

Is that a fact?

I mean. How is Mama gonna
react when she finds out...

that Christopher is your son by Kristin.

And if you wanna
lose Sue Ellen permanently...

I think making that information public
ought to just about do it.

Well. Now. I admit that'd
be rough for a while.

But after all. Mama's
not losing a grandson.

Christopher is still gonna be
on Southfork.

And as far as Sue Ellen
and I are concerned...

I just don't see how it could get
any worse than it already is.

And I have you to thank for that.

I have explained
everything to you about that.

Yeah.

And I also told you
that I'd be perfectly happy...

to be known as Christopher's uncle.

But. Bobby. What worries me is...

how is Pamela gonna take
giving up that boy?

Are those voting shares really
worth taking that chance for you?

J.R.. I think you're bluffing.

Well. If I am. I'm bluffing
with the best hand.

Now. Just consider
who has most to lose here. Bob.

I want a son of mine
to follow in my footsteps at Ewing Oil.

And if John Ross can't do it.
Christopher will do just fine.

I don't think you're really
low enough to do that.

And if you are. I'm warning you, J.R...

- you're gonna need a surgeon.
- I don't wanna do it. Bobby.

It's up to you.

All you have to do is vote my way.

Believe me. I think it's
the best out for both of us.

You have to eat something.

I'm not hungry.

It's good. Really.

How much longer do you
think you can keep me here...

without my family
or someone finding out?

They'll put you in jail.

No. They're not gonna find us.

We won't be here much longer.

What do you mean?

I'm gonna sell the studio.

I think we'll go to New York.
Maybe California.

We'll start all over.

I think with a fresh start.
Everything will be great between us.

Maybe we'll get married.

It'll take you a long
time to sell the studio.

- Someone will find me before then.
- No. It won't take long.

I've got an offer for it already.

Here. You've gotta eat.

Here you go. Sweetheart.
Look at this. Your favorite.

Here. Let me.

Mommy will be right back.
You start eating. Okay?

Oh. Sue Ellen.

Could we talk?

There is nothing we
have to say to one another.

Now. Wait. Wait a minute.

I have no desire to stand out here
ringing your doorbell all night. Sue Ellen.

It won't take long.

Hey. John Ross.

Hey. How are you doing. Buddy?
Is that a good dinner?

Yeah?

Well. You just munch away.

Your mama and I are gonna have
a little talk.

- Let's get it over with, J.R.
- Well. Now I understand...

you're unhappy with what
I had to say to Clayton.

That's absolutely right. I am.

Well. I did it for his benefit.
Truly I did. And yours.

- And that's all?
- No.

I think. In time. You'll come to realize
I had your best interest at heart.

After living with his son...

you couldn't feel that way
about Clayton, could you?

Our love was something that you
couldn't possibly understand. J.R.

Oh. I understood fine.
It was Clayton who didn't understand.

But like the honorable gentleman
that he is, he stepped aside.

That's why you did it.

You knew how Clayton would react.

Yeah. Well. I thought I did.

And now you just have Cliff
Barnes left. And that's not for long.

Cliff wants to marry me.

Yes. I know.

That's when he thought he was gonna be
the richest. Most powerful man in Dallas.

But he's soon to learn otherwise.

He's riding for the biggest
fall in his life.

He'll never be able to afford you.
Sue Ellen.

Why are you doing all this. J.R.?

Because I love you. And I need you.
And I want you on Southfork again.

That's never gonna happen.

I've changed.

Don't hold my past against me.

When I lost my daddy. I had a good
chance to take a look at my life...

and I wasn't too happy
with the picture.

I discovered I needed you.

We belong together.

- J.R.. please.
- Think it over.

Southfork is the only place for you.

And I'm the only man
you can ever really live with.

Hello. Mama.

How you feeling?

I'm all right, J.R.

We missed you at dinner last night.

Pam said you spent most
of the day in your room.

Well. I haven't been hungry.

Say. Why don't I stick around.
Have breakfast with you?

Oh. No. Thank you. J.R.. I'm fine.

If you don't mind. I got a awful lot
of work to do at the office.

- Well. Have a nice day.
- I'll see you at dinner? Good.

Thank you. Teresa.

I'm sure it can be converted
into a great aerobic gym.

It's a great location.

I'm just not sure whether
or not we should expand.

What do you think?

Well. Whatever you wanna do.
Sweetheart. It's fine with me.

Bobby. I thought you'd be interested.

Oh. Honey. I am. I'm sorry.

I just have a few other things
on my mind. That's all.

Are you worried about Miss Ellie?

She's been acting kind of strange.
She didn't come to dinner yesterday.

Teresa said she never touched
a thing sent up on the tray.

Well. I'm sure she'll come out of it.

I don't know.

I'm afraid that she might be
coming to grips...

with Daddy's death for the first time.

But why now?
Has something happened?

Not that I know of. But I'm still worried.

I don't know what kind of affect
it's gonna have on her.

Well. All we can do is
stay close to her right now.

Why don't you invite her
to dinner tonight?

That's a good idea. If she'll come.

Well. All you can do is ask.

We can ask.

We will be expanding Wentworth
Tool and Die in the near future...

at which time. I will be in contact
to reopen discussions.

Yours truly. And so on. And so on. So on.

Anything else?

No. I think that's it.

Barnes.

That will be all. Marie.

Yes. Sir.

I brought you a little present.

I hope you like it.

What is that?

Considering your background.
I understand...

why you don't recognize oil
when you see it.

I know that that's oil.
But why are you giving it to me?

Because there's more pure crude
in that 1-quart container...

than you're ever gonna get off that
Wellington property you're drilling.

J.R.. you know something.
You are the king of sour grapes.

I know how bad you wanted that land.
And you just don't stop. Do you?

Well. If I had bought that land. I would
have paid for it with my own money.

I wouldn't have stolen it
from a company.

What are you talking about?

I've known about this from
the beginning. I set you up. Barnes.

I told you if you didn't stop
seeing Sue Ellen...

I was gonna destroy you, and I did.

You just don't know it yet.

Get the hell out of my office.

Well. Now. I have a feeling
that if I come back in about a week...

this is not gonna
be your office anymore.

Oh. You can keep the oil.
There's no charge.

- Barnes-Stonehurst.
- Thomas, this is Cliff Barnes.

- How's the drilling coming?
- Nothing but mud and dirt so far.

I want you to double the crews.
I want you to go 24 hours a day...

because there has to be oil there.

There has to be oil there.

Mrs. Ewing.

Mitch. Come in.

Did you bring Lucy with you?

Bring her with me?

- No. I just came out to talk with her.
- But I thought she was with you.

After you phoned.
She was so excited about meeting you...

that she thought
you might stay together.

She misunderstood.
I asked her for a divorce.

Oh. no.

I'm sorry.

Well. Did she tell you where she was
going? She hasn't been home since.

Are you serious?

I don't know where she went.
She was upset.

Well...

maybe she's with one of her friends.
Bev or Muriel. I'll... I'll call.

I'm really sorry. Mrs. Ewing.

Help. Help me! No!
Please help me. Somebody!

No.

Your mother on one.

Thank you.

Mama.

Bobby, I'm very worried.

Mitch is here. And he tells me
that he hasn't Lucy in a couple of days.

- Well. Did you call her friends?
- I've called. They haven't seen her.

I think we should call the police.

Now. Wait a minute. I'll do that.
And then I'll be right home, all right?

No. No. You stay there
and take care of things.

- I'll call you if I hear anything.
- Have you talked tn J.R.?

I don't know where he is.

Get ahold of Ray. Have him come
stay with you till I get home. All right?

- All right.
- Okay.

- Phyllis.
- Yes, sir.

Get me Captain Hillman
at the Dallas Police...

and Sheriff Washburn in Braddock.

Yes, sir.

Miss Ellie. Is there any word yet?

None.

- Well. Is there anything we can do?
- I don't know what.

Ray. Would you and Mitch
get us some coffee in the kitchen.

Teresa can bring the coffee.

No. That's all right, really.
I'd rather do that than stand around.

Come on. Mitch.

I'm sorry. Miss Ellie.

Yes. I'm sure you are.

I'm sure that Lucy will turn up.

Oh. Look. Miss Ellie. This is not good
what's happening between us.

Leave me alone. Donna.

We have nothing to say to each other.

Bobby, there are a couple of men here
from the police department.

Send them in. Would you. Please?

- Mr. Ewing.
- Hello there.

- How do you do?
- Mr. Ewing. I'm Detective White.

This is Detective Howard.

Have you found out something
about my niece?

- Your niece?
- Lucy. She's missing. That's why...

That's why you're here. Isn't it?

Mr. Ewing. We don't know anything
about your niece.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

Mr. Ewing. A man named Jeff Farraday
was murdered a couple of days ago.

We would like you to come down
to headquarters to answer questions...

about your relationship with him.